Latest news with #Parkinsons
Associated Press
a day ago
- Business
- Associated Press
h2o Therapeutics Receives European MDR Certification for Its Apple Watch-Based App for Parkinson's Disease
ANKARA, TR / ACCESS Newswire / May 30, 2025 / h2o Therapeutics announced that it has received European Union Medical Device Regulation (EU MDR) Class IIa certification for Parky, a mobile app designed to monitor and manage Parkinson's Disease (PD) symptoms via Apple Watch. This follows the 510(k) clearance previously granted by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) in 2022, making Parky one of the few internationally regulated mobile medical apps specifically developed for Parkinson's. Parky utilizes Apple's Movement Disorder API to track motor symptoms such as tremors and dyskinesia in real time. The data is securely shared with healthcare professionals, allowing for continuous remote symptom tracking and personalized treatment adjustments. The underlying API was validated in a 343-participant study - 225 of whom were monitored for up to six months - referencing the gold-standard MDS-UPDRS clinical scale. The findings were published in Science Translational Medicine. With EU MDR Class IIa certification, Parky is now eligible for clinical use in over 30 countries that recognize the EU MDR regulatory framework, including all EU member states and multiple non-EU jurisdictions that adopt or align with these standards. 'Receiving EU MDR certification is another transformative milestone for us,' said Yagmur Selin Gulmus, founder of h2o Therapeutics. 'This recognition confirms our ability to meet the highest global standards in digital health. We're now actively seeking strategic partnerships to support Parky's global adoption and bring its benefits to Parkinson's communities worldwide.' Parkinson's Disease, affecting more than 10 million people globally, is the fastest-growing neurological disorder. Parky bridges the gap between episodic clinical assessments and real-world patient experience, enabling data-driven, individualized care through continuous passive monitoring. h2o Therapeutics is a digital health company developing clinically validated, wearable-integrated software solutions for neurological and chronic conditions. Based in Türkiye, the company combines rigorous regulatory pathways with consumer-first design to create prescription digital therapeutics (PDTs) that improve patient outcomes and support continuous, real-world care. Contact InformationBulutay Gunes Brand Manager SOURCE: h2o therapeutics press release
CBS News
2 days ago
- Health
- CBS News
Medicaid cuts could push more kids into unpaid family caregiving roles
ST. PAUL, Minn. — High school senior Joshua Yang understands sacrifice. When he was midway through 10th grade, his mom survived a terrible car crash. But her body developed tremors, and she lost mobility. After countless appointments, doctors diagnosed her with Parkinson's disease, saying it was likely triggered by brain injuries sustained in the wreck. At 15, Yang, an aspiring baseball player and member of his school's debate team, took on a new role: his mother's caregiver. Researchers estimate that Yang, now 18, counted among at least 5.4 million U.S. children who provide care to an adult in their home. As state officials eye federal Medicaid funding cuts that could drastically reduce home care services for those who are disabled or have chronic health conditions, many predict that number will rise. That's bad news for kids: Studies show that when young people take on care for adults with medical conditions, their health and academic outcomes decline. At the same time, their loved ones receive untrained care. "It all fell to me," said Yang, whose sisters were 9 and 10 at the time of their mom's accident, and whose stepdad worked nights. His grades fell and he quit after-school activities, he said, unable to spare the time. Illustration by Oona Zenda/KFF Health News Early on, Yang found reprieve from a personal care nurse who gave them supplies, such as adult diapers, and advice on items to purchase, such as a chair for the shower. And for about a year, Yang was able to work for a personal care agency and earn $1,000 a month caring for his mom — money that went toward her medication and family needs. But at the beginning of 11th grade, a change to his mom's insurance ended her personal care benefit, sending him into a runaround with his county's Medicaid office in Minnesota. "For a solid month I was on my phone, on hold, in the back of the class, waiting for the 'hello,'" he said. "I'd be in third period, saying, 'Mr. Stepan, can I step out?'" A report published in May by the U.S. Government Accountability Office reminded states that National Family Caregiver Support Program grants can be used to assist caregivers under 18. However, the future of those grants remains unclear: They are funded through the Older Americans Act, which is awaiting reauthorization; and the Administration for Community Living, which oversees the grants, was nearly halved in April as part of the reorganization of the Department of Health and Human Services under President Trump. Additionally, if Congress approves proposed cuts to Medicaid, one of the first casualties likely will be states' home- and community-based service programs that provide critical financial relief to family caregivers, said Andrew Olenski, an economist at Lehigh University specializing in long-term health care. Such programs, which differ by state but are paid for with federal dollars, are designed to ensure that Medicaid-eligible people in need of long-term care can continue living at home by covering in-home personal and nursing care. In 2021, they served almost 5% of all Medicaid participants, costing about $158 billion. By law, Medicaid is required to cover necessary long-term care in a nursing home setting but not all home or community care programs. So, if states are forced to make cuts, those programs are vulnerable to being scaled back or eliminated. If an aide who makes daily home visits, for example, is no longer an option, family caregivers could step in, Olenski said. But he pointed out that not all patients have adult children to care for them, and not all adult children can afford to step away from the workforce. And that could put more pressure on any kids at home. "These things tend to roll downhill," Olenski said. Some studies show benefits to young people who step into caregiving roles, such as more self-confidence and improved family relationships. Yang said he feels more on top of things than his peers: "I have friends worrying about how to land a job interview, while I've already applied to seven or eight other jobs." But for many, the cost is steep. Young caregivers report more depression, anxiety, and stress than their peers. Their physical health tends to be worse, too, related to diet and lack of attention to their own care. And caregiving often becomes a significant drag on their education: A large study found that 15- to 18-year-old caregivers spent, on average, 42 fewer minutes per day on educational activities and 31 fewer minutes in class than their peers. Schools in several states are taking notice. In Colorado, a statewide survey recently included its first question about caregiving and found that more than 12% of high schoolers provide care for someone in their home who is chronically ill, elderly, or disabled. Rhode Island's education department now requires every middle and high school to craft a policy to support caregiving students after a study published in 2023 found 29% of middle and high school students report caring for a younger or older family member for part of the day, and 7% said the role takes up most of their day. Rates were higher for Hispanic, Asian, and Black students than their white peers. The results floored Lindsey Tavares, principal of Apprenticeship Exploration School, a charter high school in Cranston. Just under half her students identified as caregivers, she said. That awareness has changed conversations when students' grades slip or the kids stop showing up on time or at all. "We know now that this is a question we should be asking directly," she said. Students have shared stories of staying home to care for an ill sibling when a parent needs to work, missing school to translate doctors' appointments, or working nights to pitch in financially, she said. Tavares and her team see it as their job to find an approach to help students persist. That might look like connecting the student to resources outside the school, offering mental health support, or working with a teacher to keep a student caught up. "We can't always solve their problem," Tavares said. "But we can be really realistic about how we can get that student to finish high school." Rhode Island officials believe their state is the first to officially support caregiving students — work they're doing in partnership with the Florida-based American Association for Caregiving Youth. In 2006, the association formed the Caregiving Youth Project, which works with schools to provide eligible students with peer group support, medical care training, overnight summer camp, and specialists tuned in to each student's specific needs. This school year, more than 700 middle and high school students took part. "For kids, it's important for them to know they're not alone," said Julia Belkowitz, a pediatrician and an associate professor at the University of Miami who has studied student caregivers. "And for the rest of us, it's important, as we consider policies, to know who's really doing this work." In St. Paul, Joshua Yang had hoped to study civil engineering at the University of Minnesota, but decided instead to attend community college in the fall, where his schedule will make it simpler to continue living at home and caring for his mom. But he sees some respite on the horizon as his sisters, now 12 and 13, prepare to take on a greater share of the caregiving. They're "actual people" now with personalities and a sense of responsibility, he said with a laugh. "It's like, we all know that we're the most meaningful people in our mom's life, so let's all help out," he said. KFF Health News is a national newsroom that produces in-depth journalism about health issues and is one of the core operating programs at KFF — the independent source for health policy research, polling, and journalism.
Daily Mail
2 days ago
- Entertainment
- Daily Mail
Ozzy Osbourne reveals personal crisis amid health woes ahead of his final UK show as Black Sabbath frontman
Ozzy Osbourne has revealed a secret personal crisis ahead of what has been billed as his final ever show this summer. The legendary rocker, 76, will take to the stage on July 5, as he reunites with Black Sabbath in his native Birmingham at Villa Park for his Back to the Beginning show. It will be the first time Ozzy has performed since late 2018 and following his diagnosis with Parkinson's disease. With just weeks to go until the show, Ozzy has opened up on his self-confidence battle and stage fright. Speaking on SiriusXM's podcast Ozzy Speak s, he said: 'My head's crazy. ADHD - I have that badly. I will have done the show and died a death before I even started my exercises. So I try and put it on the back burner. From A-list scandals and red carpet mishaps to exclusive pictures and viral moments, subscribe to the Daily Mail's new Showbiz newsletter to stay in the loop. 'I'm not going up there saying "It's going to be great. I'm really confident." 'In my head I will have died on my ass. I remember being in f***ing Vegas one time being in the dressing room going, "I'm going to play. I'm going to die." He continued: 'And I talked myself into blowing the gig. It was only two f***ing songs. Sharon goes, 'just don't think about it.' I obsess about a f***ing bird c***ping on my show. 'But all I can say is I'm giving 120 percent. If my God wants me to do the show. I'll do it. Sometimes if I start obsessing on the time, I'll be insane by Friday. So I'm just taking it one day at a time.' The singer is also unsure about whether to perform while standing up, or sitting down following a series of spinal operations. Black Sabbath pioneered heavy metal music in the early 1970s with hits such as War Pigs, Paranoid and Iron Man. Since their last gig together in 2005, Black Sabbath has played in partial reunions but never in their original line-up. Ahead of the gig, Ozzy is in strict training, which even sees his blood pressure being taken 15 times a day. He explained: 'I have got this trainer guy who helps people get back to normal. t's hard going, but he's convinced that he can pull it off for me. I'm giving it everything I've got. 'It's endurance. The first thing that goes when you're laid up is your stamina. 'I am having my blood pressure taken 15 times a day.. I've got this f***ing device on my finger. 'It's a monitor to say how my heart rate is. Earlier this month, Ozzy vowed to go ahead with the show, telling The Guardian: 'I'll be there, and I'll do the best I can. So all I can do is turn up.' It comes as Tool front man Maynard James Keenan previously cast doubt on whether Ozzy would make it on stage. He said of the gigs, which his band are also playing: 'I'm cautious about saying, 'Yeah! All in, he's gonna do it'. I don't know what kind of modern miracles we'll come up with to get him on stage to do the songs, but this is gonna be a challenge for them. 'So, I'm honoured to be a part of it, but I'm kinda preparing for the worst, but hoping for the best.' Ozzy's wife Sharon Osbourne revealed how the legend was struggling to walk earlier this year as his Parkinson's progresses. She told The Sun: 'He's very happy to be coming back and very emotional about this. Parkinson's is a progressive disease. 'It's not something you can stabilise. It affects different parts of the body and it's affected his legs. But his voice is as good as it's ever been.' Ozzy was diagnosed with a mild form of Parkinson's disease in 2003, however he only went public with the condition in 2020. However, he has said that his biggest struggles are due to a fall which he suffered in 2019 which caused metal rods in his back to dislodge. The rods had been put there following a quad bike accident at his Buckinghamshire home in 2003. Ozzy has been open about his past addictions to drink and drugs at the height of his career. He previously reflected on his Madhouse Chronicles podcast: 'I've been doing a lot of reflection while I've been laid up, and all my drinking partners, I've realised they're all f***ing dead. 'I should have been dead before loads of them. Why am I the last man standing? Sometimes I look in the mirror and go, 'Why the f*k did you make it?'. 'I should have been dead a thousand times. I've had my stomach pumped God knows how many times.' WHAT IS PARKINSON'S DISEASE AND WHAT ARE THE SYMPTOMS? What is Parkinson's disease? Parkinson's disease is a condition in which parts of the brain become progressively damaged over many years, according to the NHS website. What are the symptoms? The NHS says there are three major symptoms, including tremors or shaking, slowness of movement and muscle stiffness. Other symptoms include problems with balance, loss of smell, nerve pain, excessive sweating and dizziness. Some people can also experience lack of sleep, excessive production of saliva and problems swallowing, causing malnutrition and dehydration. What are the early signs? Symptoms can start gradually, sometimes beginning with a barely noticeable tremor in just one part of the body. In the early stages, people may show little or no expression, and their arms may not swing when they walk. Speech can also become soft or slurred, with the condition worsening over time. What are the causes? Some scientists believe a combination of genetic and environmental factors are the cause of Parkinson's disease. It occurs after a person experiences loss of nerve cells in a part of their brain. However, it is not known why the loss of nerve cells associated with the condition takes place but research is ongoing to identify potential causes. Scientists say genetics factor can increase a person's risk of developing the disease, and can therefore run in families. Other factors attributed to causing the condition include environmental problems such as pollution, though such links are inconclusive, the NHS says. How is it diagnosed? No tests can conclusively show if a person has the disease, but doctors can make a diagnosis based on symptoms, medical history and a physical examination. A specialist will ask the person to write or draw, walk or speak to check for any common signs of the condition. They may even check for difficulty making facial expressions and slowness of limb movement. How many people are affected? Around 145,000 people live with Parkinson's disease in the UK, according to the charity Parkinson's UK. What happens if someone is diagnosed? According to the charity, it is a legal requirement to contact the DVLA, as a diagnosed person will need to have a medical or driving assessment. The organisation also advises people to contact any insurance providers and find out about financial support available. People are also encouraged to partake in more exercise. Can it be treated? Although there is no cure, a number of treatments are available to help reduce the symptoms. The main remedies include medication, exercise, therapy and surgery, which can help people in different ways. What medication is available and what are the side effects? Medication can be helpful in improving the main symptoms of Parkinson's disease, such as shaking and movement problems. There are three main types which are commonly used, levodopa, dopamine agonist or a MAO-B inhibitor. Each can affect people in different ways. The drugs do have some side effects, including impulsive and compulsive behaviour, hallucinations, sleep issues and blood pressure changes. What therapy is available? There are several therapies available to those with Parkinson's through the NHS. Among them are physiotherapy to reduce muscle stiffness, occupational therapy to help with completing day-to-day tasks and speech and language coaching. Does this change the way you live? Most people's life expectancy will not change a great deal, though more advanced symptoms can lead to increased disability and poor health. It can also cause some cognitive issues and changes to mood and mental health. Those with Parkinson's are encouraged to exercise more often, with scientists saying 2.5 hours of exercise a week is enough to slow the progression of symptoms.
Forbes
4 days ago
- Business
- Forbes
Sergey Brin's Latest Stock Gift Signals Shift In Philanthropic Strategy
Google cofounder Sergey Brin is back in the office working on AI. But he's also ramping up his philanthropic investments, largely centering conditions of the central nervous week Google cofounder Sergey Brin gave away $700 million worth of Alphabet shares. The gifts were split between three nonprofits, according to a representative of Brin's family office. Nearly 80% of the shares—worth nearly $550 million—went to Brin's four-year-old nonprofit Catalyst4, while the remaining shares went to the Sergey Brin Family Foundation (14%) and Michael J. Fox Foundation (7%), which supports research and treatments for Parkinson's disease. Brin, 51, is worth an estimated $137 billion and is the world's eighth richest person. He's the largest individual donor—at more than $1.5 billion—to research on Parkinson's disease, which afflicted his mother, who died last year, and for which he has a genetic mutation that means he has a much higher chance of getting the disease than the general population. And he's made a big commitment to fund research into the causes of bipolar disorder and autism, as Forbes wrote about in February. Brin's team has created an umbrella group to oversee research in these areas called CNS Quest. (CNS stands for 'central nervous system.) His significant gift of Alphabet shares to Catalyst4 will, in large part, power the work of the CNS Quest, per Brin's representative. Brin sees his philanthropic mission as deeply 'personal because it starts with Parkinson's disease, and I carry one of the genetic mutations discovered, the G2019S mutation to the LRRK2 gene,' he wrote to Forbes in February. He keeps his life private, but all three conditions under the CNS Quest have affected members of his family. Brin's increased giving to Catalyst4, a type of nonprofit called a 501(c)(4) that can lobby as well as own entire for-profit companies, may be part of a broader shift in his giving strategy. To date, Brin has donated at least $1.5 billion to Catalyst4. In late 2021, Brin seeded the entity with more than $450 million worth of donated Alphabet and Tesla stock, and added another $615 million in 2023. Catalyst4 is still smaller than Brin's decade-old, more traditional nonprofit, the Sergey Brin Family Foundation, which had $4 billion in assets as of the end of 2023. But in recent years he's been giving more to Catalyst4 than to his family foundation, which also funds various climate and education initiatives. With Catalyst4, Brin hopes that his efforts can address both basic science research and eventual treatments and therapies; the latter most often comes from for-profit companies. 'What we've learned and seen from our other initiatives is that it's really important to fund both things in parallel, and have that feedback loop across both the science and the clinical side of things, like trial design, drug development and therapeutics,' Ekemini Riley, who has a PhD in molecular medicine and helps lead the CNS Quest initiatives, told Forbes in February. In some cases, this means investing in biopharma companies through Catalyst4. Brin has been backing startups and venture capital funds that are working on for-profit solutions and treatments, investing more than $600 million to date, including about $400 million in 2024 alone. Per nonprofit tax filings, Catalyst4's portfolio includes a majority stake in biopharma firm MapLight, which is developing treatments for brain diseases and autism. MapLight is currently enrolling patients in Phase 2 clinical trials for a drug candidate that aims to help with 'social communication deficits' in certain autistic people. In February, Catalyst4 also led an $80 million funding round in Stellaromics, which makes detailed three-dimensional maps of gene activity in slices of tissue for other companies to use in drug development. Any profits from investments must be reinvested into the nonprofit, and Catalyst4 has given some portfolio companies 'philanthropic dollars' (often some 25% of the total investment) along with its equity investment, according to a person familiar with Brin's philanthropy. It's still unclear how exactly Brin will use his latest gift to further the goals of the CNS Quest and Catalyst4. But the ramp-up will certainly continue, especially crucial as the Trump administration continues to cut funding for medical research and clinical trials.
News.com.au
5 days ago
- Health
- News.com.au
Amanda Keller gets emotional on air as she marks 35-year marriage amid husband's diagnosis: ‘It's hard'
Amanda Keller got emotional on air this morning as she marked her 35th wedding anniversary with husband Harley Oliver. Speaking on JAM Nation with Jonesy & Amanda, the radio host reflected on the three decades they've spent side-by-side through all the highs and lows – and how their vows 'in sickness and in health' have rung true in recent years following Oliver's Parkinson's disease diagnosis. 'I don't want to get emotional. It's my wedding anniversary today. And in the old days, Harley and I would have been going out to dinner tonight. But he's not well enough to do that,' she cried on-air to co-host Brendan 'Jonesy' Jones. 'When you stand there on your wedding day and you say forever, what does that even mean? You don't even know,' she reflected. 'I think all you can say is, I kind of feel the weight of potential that we can go somewhere here. And when you say the words, for better or worse, you know, what do they mean when you're in your 20s?' Oliver, who has been married to Keller since 1989, was diagnosed with Parkinson's in 2017 but the radio host only made his diagnosis public in 2023 during an episode of her Double A Chattery podcast. At the time, Keller had noticed something wasn't right with her husband often dragging his leg and his hands started to shake. Soon after Oliver received news the couple had feared: he was diagnosed with Parkinson's – an incurable brain disorder that causes uncontrollable movements, such as shaking, stiffness, and difficulty with balance and co-ordination, with symptoms gradually worsening over time. 'In sickness and in health. And yet that's where we are. And no concept of what that means until you're living it,' Keller said this morning. 'I kind of fluctuate between taking great pride in the fight that we are alongside each other, and the strength that it takes to get up every day and still fight it and still live it.' 'But I don't think you can get to 35 years without the sands shifting between you beneath your feet. If you're living life, you don't get to cherry pick life. You engage with it as you find it. And Harley's very stoic, but it's hard. You know, I'm grateful today that here we are, 35 years and we're still in it together. But it's hard.' Keller says she doesn't dwell on the 'what ifs' and accepts their circumstances as they are but she'd be lying if she said she didn't sometimes have the 'absolute sh*ts' with what they have to deal with. 'We've lived a rich and wonderful life together, and we still do,' she added. 'But it's not the same as the old days where we'd be going out to dinner tonight. But the boys are coming over for dinner. And I'm grateful that we still have each other. But I wasn't going to get emotional. Anyway, happy anniversary, Harley.' Keller than said that everyone goes into marriage with no knowledge of what lies ahead in their journey, but that's all part of life – and she's grateful for it all. 'On your wedding day where you think no one knows what ride you're in for? None of us do. As Harley himself says, we all have an asteroid coming at us. We don't know what it is,' she said. 'We all think that we'll get to 90 and die in our sleep. I think the human condition is you can't afford to think otherwise, or you wouldn't get up in the morning. But people face stuff every day. And that's the meat of life. That's the meat of a long-term relationship. So, I'm grateful to have that.'
